9 hours ago
Royal Ascot jockey talks up 28-1 shot and compares favourite to Declan Rice
Sean Levey holds a stellar book of rides for day 1 of Royal Ascot, and thinks his best chance is a mount who works like Declan Rice, with a 28-1 outsider also in with a solid shout
Sean Levey believes his opening ride at Royal Ascot, Rosallion, compares to Arsenal star Declan Rice at home and has 'little to find' in order to win the Queen Anne Stakes. St James's Palace charge Rashabar is another the 37-year-old thinks could outrun his 28-1 price.
Levey first tasted victory at the prestigious Royal meeting back in 2022, and last year, guided the then-three-year-old Rosallion to Group 1 glory in the St James's Palace for just his second Ascot winner.
This year, he has three rides on day 1, and none are bigger than the now four-year-old son of Blue Point, who fractionally disappointed on his return when third in the Lockinge Stakes last month, but heads the Queen Anne betting at a general 5-2.
Richard Hannon's colt is one that Levey regards highly, and one he feels works and performs like Gunners ace Rice, with an understated and reserved but effective temperament.
"He's never been very flash like Declan Rice. I mean, we always thought he was exceptional with his mannerisms and the way he went about things, but he never caught the eye with the way he worked at home," admitted Ladbrokes ambassador Levey.
"I think it's normally a sign of a smart horse. A lot of good horses are quite reserved at home. They leave their running for the race course. That kind of gives them that bit of longevity going forward.
"He confirmed what we thought of him when he ran on a track for the first time, and then continued to confirm that throughout. There's no doubt he brings his best out to the races whenever he does run."
Levey continued, touching on Rosallion's Queen Anne chances: "He's obviously going there with a favourite's chance, and he'd probably be my most fancied horse anyway. He's in a difficult position because, obviously, he was a dual-Group 1 winner as a three-year-old. He had a setback that left him off the track for nearly a year leading up to the Lockinge.
"So, ultimately, he was having his sort of a prep run in the Lockinge, where, like he did as a three-year-old, he got beat, but at the same time, we knew he would have needed it. At the end of the day, if you look at the Lockinge, we were only beaten two lengths by what you'd argue were horses having their third run of the year. Not a lot to find, considering we have been off the track for so long."
Later in the day, Levey will get a leg up on Brian Meehan's colt Rashabar, who impressed at this meeting 12 months ago when claiming the six-furlong Coventry Stakes as an 80-1 shot. He placed fourth on his last outing in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.
The three-year-old has been put up in trip this campaign, and while he hasn't tasted victory since his Ascot win, some promising runs in behind quality horses over seven furlongs and a mile give Levey hope at a price of 28-1.
"Well, the St James's Palace is always one of the biggest three-year-old races of the meeting. I mean, it is considered the stallion maker. It's a massive race," added Levey.
"Rashabar is in a good place. He kind of missed running in the French Guineas and ended up in the Irish one, and we thought he'd come on again for that run in the Irish one. And if he does so, it obviously leaves him being quite competitive [in the Coventry].
"I think you could argue Rashabar is going to come on for his run at the Curragh. I think Ascot will definitely suit him, it being a stiff track, and we'd like to think he'll come on from his last one."
